The invention discloses a system and method to obtain a set of corrected projected patterns from an integrated 3D measurement system so that the solidification of the formed object appears at the same time in a volumetric printer such as a tomographic back-projection or multi-beam printer, hence ensuring that the object is formed with the highest fidelity and spatial resolution.

A method operates a three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing system to maintain a temperature of an uppermost layer of a 3D metal object being formed within a temperature range conducive for bonding between the uppermost layer and a next layer to be formed. A controller of the system compares a temperature of the uppermost layer with at least a low end temperature of the temperature range and operates an electrical resistance switching network using 3D model data to provide electrical power selectively to heating elements in a modular heater to heat the 3D metal object being formed when the temperature indicated by the signal from the sensor is less than the predetermined temperature.

A method operates a three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing system to maintain a temperature of an uppermost layer of a 3D metal object being formed within a temperature range conducive for bonding between the uppermost layer and a next layer to be formed. A controller of the system compares a temperature of the uppermost layer with at least a low end temperature of the temperature range and operates an electrical resistance switching network using 3D model data to provide electrical power selectively to heating elements in a modular heater to heat the 3D metal object being formed when the temperature indicated by the signal from the sensor is less than the predetermined temperature.

A service station system for a three-dimensional printing system comprises: a bath, having a fast-release connector at a front side thereof, and a hinge at a back side thereof for hingebly connecting an open top of the bath to a surface of the three-dimensional printing system; and a wiper assembly, having a wiper device detachably connected to a wiper base mounted on a rotatable axis passing through the bath. The wiper device wipes a dispensing face of the printing head of the three-dimensional printing system while the head reciprocally moves above the bath between the back side and the front side. The service station system can also comprise a motor for rotating the axis.

A plasticizing device includes a material reservoir which has an input port and is configured to retain a material, a plasticizer which has a screw and a case housing the screw and provided with a feed port communicated with the input port, and which is configured to plasticize the material to generate a plasticized material, a coupling pipe having a coupling path configured to connect the input port and the feed port to each other, a material sensor which has a light emitter configured to emit light toward the screw via the feed port, and a light receiver configured to receive reflected light of the light, and which is configured to detect a remaining amount of the material, and a controller configured to control the material reservoir, wherein the material reservoir has a material feed mechanism configured to feed the material to the coupling path, and the controller controls the material feed mechanism to feed the material to the coupling path when the remaining amount of the material detected by the material sensor is smaller than a reference value.

An assembly for rapid manufacturing of symmetrical objects by direct metal deposition is disclosed. A rotary stage provides rotational movement to an object supported by the stage around a central stage axis. Nozzles are spaced above the rotary stage for performing direct metal deposition for building an object supported by the stage. Each nozzle is independently moveable along a horizontal axis and independently pivotable, and combined, moveable along a vertical axis for providing symmetrical movement corresponding to a symmetrical deposition configuration of the object while the object is rotated around the central stage axis.

A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing an object. The system may have a support and a first module operatively mounted to an end of the support and configured to discharge a material during motion of the support to form an object. The system may also have a second module configured to sever the material, at least a third module configured to at least one of compact or cure the material, and an actuator configured to cause movement of the second and the at least a third modules relative to the first module.

A system, method and computer program product for an additive manufacturing or three dimensional (3D) printing system, including a build point, located at an origin of a Spherical coordinate system; a theta axis motor configured to incrementally control rotation of the build point in relation to an extruder head along the theta axis; a phi axis motor configured to incrementally control rotation of the build point in relation to the extruder head along the phi axis perpendicular to the theta axis; and a rho radius motor configured to incrementally control the extruder head to a desired radius from the build point.

A system, method and computer program product for an additive manufacturing or three dimensional (3D) printing system, including a build point, located at an origin of a Spherical coordinate system; a theta axis motor configured to incrementally control rotation of the build point in relation to an extruder head along the theta axis; a phi axis motor configured to incrementally control rotation of the build point in relation to the extruder head along the phi axis perpendicular to the theta axis; and a rho radius motor configured to incrementally control the extruder head to a desired radius from the build point.

A 3D printing apparatus of the bottom-up photo-curing type, including a tank containing a liquid photo-curing material and at least one source of a radiation designed to obtain the photo-curing of the liquid photo-curing material, the bottom of the tank including an elastic membrane of non-stick material and transparent to the radiation of the light source, the tank supported on a support plate, the support plate includes, in the portion below the bottom of the tank, a mobile support element, which is able to move by translating and/or rotating in the plane where it is positioned with one or more perforated or lowered portions. The embodiments also relate to a method of using the apparatus for 3D printing.